Tape splitting machine



D. LlTTMAN April 15, 1952 TAPE SPLITTING 'MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dan/'el Lit/man INVENTOR.

Filed May 7, 1951 'lili April 15, 1952 D. L TTMAN TAPE SPLITTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1951 lDan/@I L/'ffman INVENTOR.

BY Waway @Mah April 15, 1952 D, [TTMAN 2,593,388

TAPE SPLITTING MACHINE Filed. May 7, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a My \ QXX !z Dan/'el Liffman INVENroR.

` o 4 BY u/WMQLWS Patented Apr. 15, 1952 TAPE SPLITTING MACHINE Daniel Littman, Reading, Pa., assignor to Industrial Equipment & Supply Co., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania g Application May 7, 1951, seriaiNo. 224,936

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tape splitting machines and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine that Will quickly and readily divide a roll of tape into two sections and wind the two sections cut upon two power-driven rolls.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce considerably the cost involved for obtaining rolls of various width tapes by including the necessary mechanism for splitting a relatively wide tape into two sections. 4

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape slitting machine involving a novel and improved cutter holder that is conveniently adjustable whereby a tape may be split into two sections of predetermined widths. v'

A further object of the present invention is to provide a-tape splitting machine involving a pair of holders that are adjustable, individually, toward or away from a wall supporting a cutter so that tape sections of various widths may be wound about cores or spools on the holders.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a tape splitting machine that is sim-l ple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, efiicient and durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same'is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as inore fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts'throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure l and showing acover, in dotted lines, applied to the base;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical Sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4--4 of Figure 1;

' Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical Sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal Sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6--6 of Figure 1 Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical Sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 'I-'I of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical Sectional view taken substantially on Vthe plane of section line 6-8 of Figure 1.

7 Claims. (CI. 164-65) Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l0 represents a base including an elongated vertical wall l2 and supporting feet M.

The wall 12 is formed, at one end, with an upper and lower pair of reinforced openings or bearing eyes 46 and IB that receive shafts 20 and 22, respectively. The rear end of the shaft 20 is held against rotation in the eye l6 by a set screw 24 and the forwardly projecting end of the shaft 20 extends through and rotatably supports the hub 25 of 9, tape holder or spool 26 whose peripheral wall is formed with ribs 28 and a peripheral fiange or seat 30.

A nut 32 is threaded on the outer end of the shaft 20 and urges a sleeve 34, about the shaft 20, against the forward end of the hub 25. A coil spring 36 surrounds the shaft 20 and is biased between the holder 26 and a washer 31 on the shaft 20 and resting against eye I6, to urge the holder 26 against the sleeve 34.

The rear end of the shaft 22 extends rearwardly through the eye l8 and supports a sprocket 38 that is located behind wall I2. The forward end of the shaft 22 extends centrally through and supports a pair of end plates 40 between which is secured a cylinder 42. An abrasive cover 44` is disposed about and suitably held on the cylinder 42. The end plates 40 are secured to the ends of cylinder 42 by suitable fasteners 46 and the plates 40 are held on the shaft 22 by set screws 48.

The wall I2 is formed with a pair of' side-byside, horizontal, reinforced openings or bearing eyes 50 that rotatably support roller holding shafts 54 and 56. The rear end of the shaft 54 supports a pulley 58 and a sprocket 60 whereas the forward end of the shaft 54 supports a roller or sleeve 62 that is held on the shaft for rota- ``tion therewith by a set screw 64. A pair of spacer and guicler rings 66'are held about'I the sleeve 62 by set screws 68 whereby the spacing between the rings 66 may be varied depending upon the width of tape section that is to be guided therebetween.

The forward end of shaft 56 carries a roller or sleeve 10 that is held on the shaft by' a set screw 12. Rings 14, similar to rings 66, are held on the sleeve 10 by set screws (not shown) similar to set screws 68. The rear end of the shaft 56 supports a collar or the like '15 to retain the shaft 56 in one ofthe eyes 50.

A pair of side-by-side reinforced openings or bearing eyes 16 are formed with the wall l2 below the eyes 50. The eyes 16 rotatably support horizontal shafts 18 and 80. The rear end of the shaft 18 carries a small sprocket 82 and a large sprocket 84 whereas the forward end of the shaft 18 supports a sleeve 86, a metallic washer 88 and a compressible washer 90 with the inner end of the sleeve 86 abutting the washer 90 to urge the washer 90 against the washer 88 and the washer 80 against the eye 16. A coil spring 92 surrounds the forward end portion of the shaft 18 and is biased between the forward end of the sleeve 86 and a nut 94 threaded on the shaft 18.

A tape holder 96 is held on the sleeve 86 by a set screw 98 that extends radially through the hub I of the holder` 96. The peripheral wall of the holder` 96 is formed with ribs I02 and an external fiange so that a core I04 may be 'friotionally retained on the holder 96.

The rear end of shaft 80 carries a sprocket I06 and the forward end of the shaft 80 supports elements similar to those carried by the shaft 18 including a tape holder I 08 similar to the holder 96 that is adjustable toward and away from the Wall I2 in the same manner as holder 96. A core IIO is fitted over the ribs II2 on the peripheral wall of the holder I08. to rest against the peripheral fiange on the holder I08.

Means is provided for cutting or splitting tape extending between the rollers or sleeves 62 and 10. This meansrcomprises a cutter holder and cutter including a horizontal pin Il3 that is rotatably adjustably supported in an eye I I 4 formed with the wall IZ directly above the shaft 54. An arm ll6 is held on the-l pin Il3 by a set screw I l8 and its outer end carries a horizontal rod'l20 and a pair of horizontal bars l22. i

A plurality of juxtapositioned separable plates I24 are slidably received on the bars I22 and the rod I20, and a cutter, such as a razor blade l26, is held between a pair of adjacent plates I24. A coil spring 128 is biased between the arm I l6 and the innermost of the plates I24, whereas a nut I3 0 is threaded on the outer end of the rod VI2 0 to permit adjustment o f the cutter I26 toward or away from the wall I-I v. A motor I-32 is supported on the base II). and its drive shaft Vc a-rriesja pulley l34 that is oonnected to the pulley1 68 by an endless pulley belt IllIi.V The sprocket 60 is connected to the sprocket 84 Vby 'an endless sprocket chain I 38. Another endless sprocket chain I -40 is trained about the sprockets 38, 82, and I06, and also extends about guides I42 and.h'lltv supported on the rear face of wallflZ.

in practical use of the prsentjinvention, a roll of tape R is fitted over the holder 26 to'be frictionally retained aboutthe holder by the ribs 28. The. tape 'I is manually extended about the abrasive covering 44 and over the yguide rollers 62, 10. The tape is split into two sections by the cutter zs with one secuen s jappieu to me core oa and' 'with the emer section s 'applied to the core ll0.

Due to the 'drive connections previously described, the cylinder 42 'will be driven clockwise and the holders 96 and I08 will also rotate clockwisewhen viewing the apparatus from the'front as shown in Figure 1. The guide roller will be driven in a counter-clockwise direction to feed the strips toward the holders 98 and I08.

Theholders 96 and I 08 are offset relative to each other sufficiently to permit the sections S and S1 to wind thereon and the collars or rings 66 and 14 are adjusted sufficiently to the width of the sections 'S and Sl. I

Additional adjustment of the holders 96 and I08 is accomplished by turning theV nuts 94 threaded on the outer ends of shafts 18 and in accordance with the adjustment of the cutter I26 toward and away from the wall I2 by the nut I30.

The tape T may thus be divided into two sections of'equal width or of different widths by adjusting the cutter and the holders 96 and I08.

t Additional cutters may be applied between adja- -cent plates I24 to divide the tape into more than two sections, in which instance another rotary holder, similar to holders 99 and I08, may be mounted on the wall I2 alongside of or adjacent the holders 96, I08. l"

Plates I24 may be of different widths so that an initial setting of the cutter may be made with slight adjustment of the cutter accomplished by the nut l30.

As the cylinder 42 rotates, tape will be pulled from the roll R and directed to the rollers 62, 10 with roller 10 aiding such a step and also directing the sections toward the holders 96, I08. The holders 96, I08 will rotate in order to wind the sections S and Sl thereon.

A suitable cover C may be detachably secured to ribs R1 on the base to conceal the working parts of the device locatedbehind the wall I 2.

Having described the invention, what is claimed aS new IS! 1. A splitting machine for adhesive tape comprisng anv elongated supporting wall, a first pair of horizontally disposed rotary members rotatably supported on one end of the wall and disposed one above the other with their axes of rotation lying in a common vertical plane, the lower of said members forming a driver, a second pair of rotary members rotatably supported on the wall and disposed in side-by-side relation adjacent the first pair of rotary members and with their axes in a common horizontal plane bisecting the vertical plane through the axes of the first pair of members between the axes of the first pair of members, a third pair of rotary members rotatably supported on the wall beneath the second pair 'of members and disposed in side-by-side relation with their axes in a common horizontal plane spaced parallel to a horizontal plane through the axes of the second pair of members, a power means mounted behind the wall and operatively connected to both of the third pair of members and one each of the first and second pair of members, and a straight blade supported on the wall and extending between the members of said second pair of members, all of said members being disposed in front of the wall.

2. A splitting machine for adhesive tape comprising an elongated supporting wall, a first pair of rotary members rotatably supported on one end of the wall and disposed one above the other, one of said members supporting a Vroll of tape thereon and the other of said members forming a driver about which 'the tape extends from the said one of said members, a second pair of rotary members rotatably supported on the wall and disposed in side-by-side relation adjacent the first pair of rotary members, a third pair of rotary members rotatably supported on the wall beneath the second pair of members and disposed in side-by-side relation, a power means operatively connected to the driver forming member for rotating the same clockwise, said power means also being connected to the member of the second pair of members closest the first pair of members for rotating the same counter-clock'- wise, said power means being further connected toboth of said third pair of members for rotating both of said third pair of members clockwise, and a straight blade supported on the wall between the second pair of members.

3. A tape splitting machine comprising an elongated supporting wall, a first pair of rotary members rotatably supported on one end of the wall and disposed one above the other, one meinber of said first pair of members forming a driver and the other member of said first pair of members forming a holder, a second pair of rotary members rotatably supported on the wall and disposed in side-by-side relation adjacent the first pair of rotary members, a third pair of rotary members rotatably supported on the wall beneath the second pair of members and disposed in sideby-side relation, a power means operatively connected to the driver forming member for rotating the same clockwise to pull tape from the other of said first pair of members, said power means also being connected to the member of the second pair of members closest the first pair of members for rotating the same counter-clockwise to pull tape from the driver forming member, said power means being further connected to both of said third pair of members for rotating both of said third pair of members clockwise, a roll of tape supported on the holder forming member, one end of said tape being extended about the driver forming member and over the second pair of members, and a straight blade supported on the wall between the second pair of members and splitting the tape into two sections between the second pair of members, both sections of said tape extending under the member of said second pair remote from the first pair of rollers, one of said sections being attached to one of said third pair of members and the other of said sections being attached to the other of said third pair of members.

4. A tape splitting machine comprising a base including an elongated vertical wall, a first horizontal shaft supported on one end of the wall, a tape holder rotatably mounted on said shaft, a second horizontal shaft rotatably supported on the wall and paralleling the first shaft, a rotary member mounted on the second shaft, a pair of guide rollers supported for rotation on the wall in side-by-side relation adjacent the holder and the member, a pair of side-b v-side horizontal shafts rotatably supported on the wall below the guide rollers, a tape holder on each of said pair of shafts, a straight blade supported on the wall between the rollers for dividing a tape extending between the rollers, and a power means mounted on the base and connected to the second shaft for rotating the first-named holder clockwise, said power means being connected to the holders on the pair of shafts for rotating the same clockwise, and one of said rollers being connected to the power means for rotation counterclockwise to move a tape past the blade.

5. A tape splitting machine comprising a base including an elongated vertical wall, a first horizontal shaft supported on one end of the wall, a tape holder rotatably mounted on said shaft, a second horizontal shaft rotatably supported on the wall and paralleling the first shaft, a rotary member mounted on the second shaft, a pair of guide rollers supported for rotation on the wall in side-by-side relation adjacent the holder and the member, a pair of side-by-side horizontal shafts rotatably supported on the wall below the guide rollers, a tape holder on each of said pair of shafts, a straight blade supported on the 'wall between the rollers for dividing a tape extending between the rollers, said pair of shafts including rear `ends projecting outwardly from the wall. a small and a large sprocket supported on the rear end of one of said pair of shafts, another sprocket on the rear end of the other of said pair of shafts, said second shaft having a rear end projecting beyond the wall, a sprocket on the rear end of said second shaft. one of said rollers including a supporting shaft having a rear end projecting outwardly from the wall, a sprocket and a pulley mounted on the end of said supporting shaft, an endless sprocket chain trained about the lastnamed sprocket and the large sprocket, a second endless sprocket chain trained about the small sprocket, the sprocket on the second shaft and the sprocket on the said other of said pair of shafts, an idler sprocket supported on the wall between the pair of shafts about which said second chain is engaged, and a motor supported on the base and connected to the pulley.

6. The combination of claim 4 and a pair of longitudinally adjustable guide rings mounted on each of said rollers to accommodate tapes of various widths.

7. The combination of claim 4 and a holder for said straight blade, said blade holder comprising a vertically adjustable arm pivotally supported on the wall, a horizontal rod carried by the arm and paralleling the pivot for the arm, a plurality of separable juxtaposed plates slidably received on the rod, a spring surrounding the rod and biased between the arm and the plates, said cutter being disposed between an adjacent pair of said plates, and a nut threaded on the rod for adjusting the plates on the rod against action of said spring.

DANIEL LITTMAN.

BEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,710,211 Gammeter Apr. 213, 1929 1,734,643 Olsen Nov. 5, 1929 1,963,179 Stacey June 19, 1934 2,282,909 Thiersch May 12, 1942 2,310,153 Rosenfarb Feb. 2, 1943 2,343,720 Van Norde Mar. 7, 1944 2,460.694 Hanswell Feb. 1, 1949 

